Narrative:

During departure from rdg airport ATC assigned 4000 ft. During the climb I was reading the climb checklist. While reading checklist ATC informed us we were at 4500 ft, 500 ft above assigned altitude. The captain immediately corrected the altitude. The rest of the flying was uneventful. I feel I was distracted while reading the checklist. The captain said he was automatically used to being assigned a higher altitude than 4000 ft. That maybe past experiences fooled him into thinking our assigned altitude was greater than 4000 ft. Perhaps climb checklists should be performed at the first level off altitude instead during the climb. Perhaps this aircraft (jetstream 31) should be equipped with an altitude alerter like many larger aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN LTT OVERSHOT CLB DEP ALT.

Narrative: DURING DEP FROM RDG ARPT ATC ASSIGNED 4000 FT. DURING THE CLB I WAS READING THE CLB CHKLIST. WHILE READING CHKLIST ATC INFORMED US WE WERE AT 4500 FT, 500 FT ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT. THE CAPT IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED THE ALT. THE REST OF THE FLYING WAS UNEVENTFUL. I FEEL I WAS DISTRACTED WHILE READING THE CHKLIST. THE CAPT SAID HE WAS AUTOMATICALLY USED TO BEING ASSIGNED A HIGHER ALT THAN 4000 FT. THAT MAYBE PAST EXPERIENCES FOOLED HIM INTO THINKING OUR ASSIGNED ALT WAS GREATER THAN 4000 FT. PERHAPS CLB CHKLISTS SHOULD BE PERFORMED AT THE FIRST LEVEL OFF ALT INSTEAD DURING THE CLB. PERHAPS THIS ACFT (JETSTREAM 31) SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH AN ALT ALERTER LIKE MANY LARGER ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.